Automatically Controlling Operation of a Bras Device Based on Encapsulation Information

1. A method to control operation of a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) device, the method comprising: extracting encapsulation information from a communications exchange between a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device and an external server device, the communications exchange passing through the BRAS device and a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device; storing the encapsulation information in local memory of the BRAS device; controlling a flow of a downstream communication passing through the BRAS device and the DSLAM device toward the CPE device based on the encapsulation information stored in the local memory of the BRAS device; wherein the external server device is a DHCP server; wherein the CPE device is an end-user device; wherein the DSLAM device is disposed between the end-user device and the BRAS device; wherein extracting the encapsulation information from the communications exchange between the CPE device and the external server device includes: reading, by the BRAS device, contents from a portion of a DHCP message which is en route from the DHCP server to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device to assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the end-user device, the contents indicating that the end-user device and the DSLAM device are constructed and arranged to exchange Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) packets by (i) encapsulating portions of the TCP/IP packets within series of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells and (ii) exchanging the series of ATM cells, having the encapsulated portions of the TCP/IP packets therein, over a Digital Subscriber Line disposed between the end-user device and the DSLAM device; receiving, at the BRAS device, a set of TCP/IP packets from a TCP/IP packet source which is different than the DHCP server, the set of TCP/IP packets being en route from the TCP/IP packet source to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device; and incrementally outputting each TCP/IP packet of the set of TCP/IP packets at a predetermined data rate to direct the DSLAM device, when (i) dividing the TCP/IP packets into portions, (ii) encapsulating those portions within a stream of ATM cells, and sending the stream of ATM cells to the end-user device through the Digital Subscriber Line, to provide a Quality of Service at the particular data rate to the end-user.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the external server device is configured to operate as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server; and wherein extracting the encapsulation information includes: obtaining the encapsulation information from a DHCP message sent between the CPE device and the DHCP server through the DSLAM device and the BRAS device.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein obtaining the encapsulation information from the DHCP message includes: reading contents of a DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, the contents identifying one of a variety of encapsulation protocols.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein reading the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message includes: identifying, based on the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, a particular encapsulation protocol employed by the DSLAM device on communications between the DSLAM device and the CPE device.

5. A method as in claim 3 wherein the contents of the DHCP Option 82 includes data added by a DHCP relay agent running on the DSLAM device; and wherein reading the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message includes: acquiring the data added by the DHCP relay agent running on the DSLAM device.

6. A method as in claim 3 wherein the contents of the DHCP Option 82 includes information added by the DHCP server in response to data provided by a DHCP relay agent running on the DSLAM device; and wherein reading the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message includes: acquiring the information added by the DHCP server in response to the data provided by a DHCP relay agent running on the DSLAM device.

7. A method as in claim 3 wherein the local memory of the BRAS device holds a database having a set of entries corresponding to a set of subscribers; wherein storing the encapsulation information in the local memory of the BRAS device includes saving the encapsulation information in a particular entry of the set of entries of the database; and wherein controlling the flow of the downstream communication includes: automatically adjusting bandwidth of the downstream communication based on the encapsulation information in the particular entry of the set of entries of the database.

8. A Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) device, comprising: a network interface; local memory; and a controller coupled to the network interface and the local memory, the controller being configured to: extract encapsulation information from a communications exchange between a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device and an external server device, the communications exchange passing through (i) the network interface of the BRAS device and (ii) a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, store the encapsulation information in the local memory, and control a flow of a downstream communication passing through (i) the network interface of the BRAS device and (ii) the DSLAM device toward the CPE device based on the encapsulation information stored in the local memory; wherein the external server device is a DHCP server; wherein the CPE device is an end-user device; wherein the DSLAM device is disposed between the end-user device and the BRAS device; wherein the controller, when extracting the encapsulation information from the communications exchange between the CPE device and the external server device, is configured to: read contents from a portion of a DHCP message which is en route from the DHCP server to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device to assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the end-user device, the contents indicating that the end-user device and the DSLAM device are constructed and arranged to exchange Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) packets by (i) encapsulating portions of the TCP/IP packets within series of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells and (ii) exchanging the series of ATM cells, having the encapsulated portions of the TCP/IP packets therein, over a Digital Subscriber Line disposed between the end-user device and the DSLAM device; and wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a set of TCP/IP packets from a TCP/IP packet source which is different than the DHCP server, the set of TCP/IP packets being en route from the TCP/IP packet source to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device; and incrementally output each TCP/IP packet of the set of TCP/IP packets at a predetermined data rate to direct the DSLAM device, when (i) dividing the TCP/IP packets into portions, (ii) encapsulating those portions within a stream of ATM cells, and sending the stream of ATM cells to the end-user device through the Digital Subscriber Line, to provide a Quality of Service at the particular data rate to the end-user.

9. A BRAS device as in claim 8 wherein the external server device is configured to operate as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server; and wherein the controller, when extracting the encapsulation information, is configured to: obtain the encapsulation information from a DHCP message sent between the CPE device and the DHCP server through the DSLAM device and the BRAS device.

10. A BRAS device as in claim 9 wherein the controller, when obtaining the encapsulation information from the DHCP message, is configured to: read contents of a DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, the contents identifying one of a variety of encapsulation protocols.

11. A BRAS device as in claim 10 wherein the controller, when reading the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, is configured to: identify, based on the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, a particular encapsulation protocol employed by the DSLAM device on communications between the DSLAM device and the CPE device.

12. A BRAS device as in claim 10 wherein the contents of the DHCP Option 82 includes data added by a DHCP relay agent running on the DSLAM device; and wherein the controller, when reading the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, is configured to: acquire the data added by the DHCP relay agent running on the DSLAM device.

13. A BRAS device as in claim 10 wherein the contents of the DHCP Option 82 includes information added by the DHCP server in response to data provided by a DHCP relay agent running on the DSLAM device; and wherein the controller, when reading the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, is configured to: acquire the information added by the DHCP server in response to the data provided by a DHCP relay agent running on the DSLAM device.

14. A BRAS device as in claim 10 wherein the local memory of the BRAS device holds a database having a set of entries corresponding to a set of subscribers; wherein the controller, when storing the encapsulation information in the local memory of the BRAS device, is configured to save the encapsulation information in a particular entry of the set of entries of the database; and wherein the controller, when controlling the flow of the downstream communication, is configured to automatically adjust bandwidth of the downstream communication based on the encapsulation information in the particular entry of the set of entries of the database.

15. A BRAS device as in claim 14 wherein the controller, when automatically adjusting the bandwidth of the downstream communication, is configured to: perform asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) overhead accounting and shaping of the downstream communication to optimize traffic between the DSLAM device and the CPE device.

16. A BRAS device as in claim 14 wherein the controller is further configured to: obtain updated encapsulation information from a DHCP lease renewal exchange between the CPE device and the DHCP server; and update the particular entry of the set of entries of the database based on the updated encapsulation information.

17. A Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) device, comprising: a network interface; local memory; and a controller coupled to the network interface and the local memory, the controller including: means for extracting encapsulation information from a communications exchange between a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device and an external server device, the communications exchange passing through (i) the network interface of the BRAS device and (ii) a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, means for storing the encapsulation information in the local memory, and means for controlling a flow of a downstream communication passing through (i) the network interface of the BRAS device and (ii) the DSLAM device toward the CPE device based on the encapsulation information stored in the local memory; wherein the external server device is a DHCP server; wherein the CPE device is an end-user device; wherein the DSLAM device is disposed between the end-user device and the BRAS device; wherein the means for extracting the encapsulation information from the communications exchange between the CPE device and the external server device includes: means for reading contents from a portion of a DHCP message which is en route from the DHCP server to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device to assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the end-user device, the contents indicating that the end-user device and the DSLAM device are constructed and arranged to exchange Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) packets by (i) encapsulating portions of the TCP/IP packets within series of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells and (ii) exchanging the series of ATM cells, having the encapsulated portions of the TCP/IP packets therein, over a Digital Subscriber Line disposed between the end-user device and the DSLAM device; and wherein the controller further includes: means for receiving a set of TCP/IP packets from a TCP/IP packet source which is different than the DHCP server, the set of TCP/IP packets being en route from the TCP/IP packet source to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device; and means for incrementally output each TCP/IP packet of the set of TCP/IP packets at a predetermined data rate to direct the DSLAM device, when (i) dividing the TCP/IP packets into portions, (ii) encapsulating those portions within a stream of ATM cells, and sending the stream of ATM cells to the end-user device through the Digital Subscriber Line, to provide a Quality of Service at the particular data rate to the end-user.

18. A method to control operation of a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the method comprising: operating a DSLAM module within the DSLAM device; obtaining a type of encapsulation carried out by the DSLAM module; and identifying the type of encapsulation in encapsulation information within a communications exchange between a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device and an external server device, the communications exchange passing through the DSLAM device and through a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) device en route to an external server device; wherein the external server device is configured to operate as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server; and wherein identifying the type of encapsulation in encapsulation information within the communications exchange between the CPE device and the external server device includes: inserting the encapsulation information into a DHCP message sent from the CPE device toward the DHCP server through the DSLAM device and the BRAS device; wherein the CPE device is an end-user device; wherein the DSLAM device is disposed between the end-user device and the BRAS device; wherein inserting the encapsulation information into the DHCP message sent from the end-user device toward the DHCP server through the DSLAM device and the BRAS device includes inserting the encapsulation information in a form that allows: reading, by the BRAS device, contents from a portion of a DHCP message which is en route from the DHCP server to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device to assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the end-user device, the contents indicating that the end-user device and the DSLAM device are constructed and arranged to exchange Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) packets by (i) encapsulating portions of the TCP/IP packets within series of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells and (ii) exchanging the series of ATM cells, having the encapsulated portions of the TCP/IP packets therein, over a Digital Subscriber Line disposed between the end-user device and the DSLAM device; receiving, at the BRAS device, a set of TCP/IP packets from a TCP/IP packet source which is different than the DHCP server, the set of TCP/IP packets being en route from the TCP/IP packet source to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device; and incrementally outputting, by the BRAS device, each TCP/IP packet of the set of TCP/IP packets at a predetermined data rate to direct the DSLAM device, when (i) dividing the TCP/IP packets into portions, (ii) encapsulating those portions within a stream of ATM cells, and sending the stream of ATM cells to the end-user device through the Digital Subscriber Line, to provide a Quality of Service at the particular data rate to the end-user.

19. A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, comprising: a network interface; a DSLAM module; and an agent module coupled to the network interface and the DSLAM module, the agent module being configured to (i) obtain a type of encapsulation carried out by the DSLAM module, and (ii) identify the type of encapsulation in encapsulation information within a communications exchange between a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device and an external server device, the communications exchange passing through the DSLAM device and through a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) device en route to an external server device; wherein the external server device is configured to operate as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server; and wherein the agent module, when identifying the type of encapsulation in the encapsulation information within the communications exchange between the CPE device and the external server device, is configured to insert the encapsulation information into a DHCP message sent from the CPE device toward the DHCP server through the DSLAM device and the BRAS device; wherein the CPE device is an end-user device; wherein the DSLAM device is disposed between the end-user device and the BRAS device; wherein the agent module configured to insert the encapsulation information into the DHCP message sent from the end-user device toward the DHCP server through the DSLAM device and the BRAS device includes being configured to insert the encapsulation information in a form that allows: reading, by the BRAS device, contents from a portion of a DHCP message which is en route from the DHCP server to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device to assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the end-user device, the contents indicating that the end-user device and the DSLAM device are constructed and arranged to exchange Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) packets by (i) encapsulating portions of the TCP/IP packets within series of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells and (ii) exchanging the series of ATM cells, having the encapsulated portions of the TCP/IP packets therein, over a Digital Subscriber Line disposed between the end-user device and the DSLAM device; receiving, at the BRAS device, a set of TCP/IP packets from a TCP/IP packet source which is different than the DHCP server, the set of TCP/IP packets being en route from the TCP/IP packet source to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device; and incrementally outputting, by the BRAS device, each TCP/IP packet of the set of TCP/IP packets at a predetermined data rate to direct the DSLAM device, when (i) dividing the TCP/IP packets into portions, (ii) encapsulating those portions within a stream of ATM cells, and sending the stream of ATM cells to the end-user device through the Digital Subscriber Line, to provide a Quality of Service at the particular data rate to the end-user.

20. A DSLAM device as in claim 19 wherein the agent module, when inserting the encapsulation information into the DHCP message sent from the CPE device toward the DHCP server through the DSLAM device and the BRAS device, is configured to: provide contents of a DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, the contents identifying one of a variety of encapsulation protocols.

21. A DSLAM device as in claim 20 wherein the agent module, when providing the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, is configured to: indicate, within the contents of the DHCP Option 82 portion of the DHCP message, a particular encapsulation protocol employed by the DSLAM device on communications between the DSLAM device and the CPE device.

22. A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, comprising: a network interface; a DSLAM module; and an agent module coupled to the network interface and the DSLAM module, the agent module including: means for obtaining a type of encapsulation carried out by the DSLAM module, and means for identifying the type of encapsulation in encapsulation information within a communications exchange between a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device and an external server device, the communications exchange passing through the DSLAM device and through a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) device en route to an external server device; wherein the external server device is configured to operate as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server; and wherein means for identifying the type of encapsulation in the encapsulation information within the communications exchange between the CPE device and the external server device of the agent module includes means for inserting the encapsulation information into a DHCP message sent from the CPE device toward the DHCP server through the DSLAM device and the BRAS device; wherein the CPE device is an end-user device; wherein the DSLAM device is disposed between the end-user device and the BRAS device; wherein the agent module includes means for inserting the encapsulation information into the DHCP message sent from the end-user device toward the DHCP server through the DSLAM device and the BRAS device includes being configured to insert the encapsulation information in a form that includes: means for reading, by the BRAS device, contents from a portion of a DHCP message which is en route from the DHCP server to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device to assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the end-user device, the contents indicating that the end-user device and the DSLAM device are constructed and arranged to exchange Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) packets by (i) encapsulating portions of the TCP/IP packets within series of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells and (ii) exchanging the series of ATM cells, having the encapsulated portions of the TCP/IP packets therein, over a Digital Subscriber Line disposed between the end-user device and the DSLAM device; means for receiving, at the BRAS device, a set of TCP/IP packets from a TCP/IP packet source which is different than the DHCP server, the set of TCP/IP packets being en route from the TCP/IP packet source to the end-user device through the BRAS device and subsequently the DSLAM device; and means for incrementally outputting, by the BRAS device, each TCP/IP packet of the set of TCP/IP packets at a predetermined data rate to direct the DSLAM device, when (i) dividing the TCP/IP packets into portions, (ii) encapsulating those portions within a stream of ATM cells, and sending the stream of ATM cells to the end-user device through the Digital Subscriber Line, to provide a Quality of Service at the particular data rate to the end-user.